Abstract: Surface covering display elements, systems and/or methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a multi-patterned rug display sample, element or unit has at least two different geometric designs and/or coloration schemes across a common surface for simultaneous comparative evaluation by a potential purchaser. The rug display sample may be patterned to include two or more geometric or solid patterns corresponding to patterns available on floor covering products independent of the display sample. Also, the display unit may include a feature rug, color runner, color rug, and/or hang tag.

Abstract: A display system and related method permitting a prospective purchaser of floor coverings to engage in the contemporaneous physical manipulation and evaluation of various combinations of surface patterns and/or placement orientations for floor covering tile elements prior to actual installation. Simulated tile elements having surface patterns corresponding to the surface patterns of the actual floor covering tile elements are disposed across a display surface in a releasably attachable manner such that one or more of the simulated tile elements may be rotated or replaced to simulate at least one alternative arrangement.

Abstract: A mat has fabric layer (4) and a rubber backing (6) bonded to the fabric layer. The fabric layer (4) includes a microknitted plush polyester fabric that is chemically treated to render it hydrophilic. The fabric layer (4) may also have a textured surface that includes raised and/or recessed surface formations (14).

Abstract: A warp-knitted fabric of at least three-bar construction, having multifilament synthetic pile yarns on the technical back which are raised or broken to produce a plush surface and monofilament synthetic ground yarns on the technical face. The fabric and/or yarns being hydrophilic, absorbent, wicking, launderable, cleanable, durable, colorfast, printable, dimensionally stable, anti-pathogenic, and/or the like.

Abstract: Dual fiber carpet and matting fabrics are made of tufted ends of yarn with one end being made from standard carpet denier yarns ranging from about 10 to 30 denier per filament and total denier ranging from about 600 to 5000 denier and the second end being made from heavy monofilament fibers with a denier per filament ranging from about 100 to 500 denier and a total denier ranging from about 300 to 5000 denier per yarn bundle. Both fibers can be made from a variety of synthetic and/or natural materials. Also, a combination of at least three floor or ground covering articles, A, B, and C, for placement in and around the entryway of a building is disclosed which provides more effective cleaning ability for pedestrians' footwear, thus better ensuring the inside of the building itself remains clean.

Abstract: A lightweight airbag cushion for deployment in opposing relation to a vehicle occupant is provided. In one embodiment, the cushion is formed from a body of wound yarn which has an enhanced elongation to break. The body includes an interior, a face portion for contact with the occupant and a rear portion including an inlet port for the introduction of an inflation medium. The body is formed by the continuous winding of yarn around a mandrel such that the yarn is spread across the face and is disposed preferentially across the back in the area surrounding the inlet port so as to provide added strength in that region.

Abstract: An airbag cushion for use in a vehicle restraint system is provided. The airbag cushion is formed from a notched body panel and a rectilinear center panel by a series of substantially straight seams which reduces substantially the elongation of the air bag cushion upon impact on collision of the vehicle in which it is installed. A method of forming the cushion according to the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: All-woven inflatable fabrics having at least one area of two layers and at least one attachment point or “seam” where a single layer of fabric is formed. Such single fabric layers may be constructed through the utilization of basket weave patterns. The single fabric layers provide a relatively a effective manner of reducing air permeability within the entire fabric article by decreasing the possibility of yarn shifting upon inflation of the inflatable fabric. Alternatively, the presence of at least a second single fabric layer area adjacent to the first and separated by and narrow double fabric layer area can further reduce the possibility of yarn shifting in the first single fabric layer area. Such a fabric may be utilized in numerous and various applications wherein fabric inflation is desired or necessary. In particular, the inventive fabric may be incorporated within an airbag cushion.

Abstract: A flashless floor mat or product and method are provided. At least one embodiment of this invention relates to a flashless cushioned dust control mat article wherein the mat comprises at least two distinct layers of rubber, one comprising foam rubber, the other comprising solid rubber. The solid rubber layer is present over the foam rubber layer on the side of the mat in which at least one integrated rubber protrusion is present to provide cushioning characteristics. The solid rubber layer acts as a cap or barrier for the foam rubber layer, particularly over the integrated protrusion or protrusions, in order to provide a mat which is resilient, will not easily degrade in its modulus strength after appreciable use and/or washing within industrial cleaning processes, and will not exhibit appreciable cracking or breaking, particularly within the integrated protrusion(s), after standard use for pedestrian traffic. A method of producing such an inventive cushioned floor mat article is also provided.

Abstract: Refurbishing and/or renewing cut or loop pile carpet products including carpet tiles by passing the product under a high pressure water or liquid dispensing head projecting a stream of water against the subject product at a pressure in the range of 100-2000 p.s.i.g. Improvements to such methods include adding a polymer backing layer to the tile, pre-bulking the face yarns, and/or chemically treating the face yarns.

Abstract: A mechanism to automatically control tension of supplemental yarns added to a weaving or knitting machine has a pivotal control arm, one end of which is influenced by the tension of the yarn being controlled, while a counteracting force is applied to another end of the arm. The movement of the arm is used to modulate and adjust a braking device acting against the yarn holding spool to keep the tension of the yarn substantially uniform over time as the diameter of the yarn wound on the storage spool changes.

Abstract: A strong lightweight airbag cushion for deployment in opposing relation to a vehicle occupant and the method of making same. The cushion is formed from a body of wound yarn. The body includes an interior, a face portion for contact with the occupant and a rear portion including an inlet port for the introduction of an inflation medium. The body is formed by the continuous winding of yarn around a mandrel such that the yarn is spread across the face and is disposed preferentially across the back in the area surrounding the inlet port so as to provide added strength in the region adjacent the port that is located at a radial distance greater than the radius of said port. This is accomplished by shifting or shogging the yarn supplying mechanism relative to the cushion mandrel.

Abstract: An improved cushioned carpet fabric is provided. The cushioned carpet comprises a primary carpet having a primary base and a plurality of pile-forming yarns projecting outwardly from one side. A layer of reinforcement material is bonded to the primary base on the side opposite the pile forming yarns. The reinforcement layer is adjacent to and embedded in, a cushion layer of a polymer such as a polyurethane. There is preferably no additional adhesive between the cushion layer and the layer of reinforcement material since the primary carpet fabric is mated in-situ to the polyurethane-forming composition without preheating the polyurethane-forming composition. An apparatus and process for forming the cushioned carpet fabric of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: An inflatable gas bag (10) for an occupant restraint system of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle. In order to avoid the formation of creases in the inflated state, which occurs with conventional gas bags and in order to be able to employ more lightweight textile materials for the manufacture of a gas bag, the gas bag (10) consists of a multilayered textile composite material which comprises at least one layer of a textile material and one layer of a polymer material whose melting range is lower than the melting range of the textile material. The textile composite material is formed into a specified three-dimensional shape which is to develop during inflation of the gas bag (10), and the individual layers of the textile composite material are joined together in this three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cushioned dust control mat or article wherein the mat comprises at least two distinct layers of rubber, one comprising foam rubber, the other comprising solid rubber and has a plurality of star-shaped protrusions in the upper surface thereof. Also, the surface of the mat between the protrusions is ribbed or recessed. The solid rubber layer is present over the foam rubber layer on the top side of the mat in which the plurality of star shaped rubber protrusions are present to provide cushioning characteristics. The solid rubber layer acts as a cap or barrier for the foam rubber layer, particularly over the star shaped protrusions, in order to provide a mat which is resilient, will not easily degrade in its modulus strength after appreciable use and/or washing within industrial cleaning processes, and will not exhibit appreciable cracking or breaking, particularly within the star-shaped protrusions, after standard use for pedestrian traffic.

Abstract: A female fabric for use in a hook and loop connecting arrangement in which a plurality of spaced substantially parallel yarns having loops projecting from and integral therewith are held in spaced relationship by a suitable adhesive material.

Abstract: A female fabric for use in a hook and loop connecting arrangement in which a plurality of spaced substantially parallel yarns having loops projecting from and integral therewith are held in spaced relationship by a suitable adhesive material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable gas bag (10) for an occupant restraint system of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle. In order to avoid the formation of creases in the inflated state, which occurs with conventional gas bags and in order to be able to employ more lightweight textile materials for the manufacture of a gas bag, the gas bag (10) consists of a multilayered textile composite material which comprises at least one layer of a textile material and one layer of a polymer material whose melting range is lower than the melting range of the textile material. The textile composite material is formed into a specified three-dimensional shape which is to develop during inflation of the gas bag (10), and the individual layers of the textile composite material are joined together in this three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packing machine and method for making recloseable bags having a safety seal exterior to a recloseable seal. The machine produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size bags and different amounts of product in the bags. The machine includes a film drive and pinch roll pair, a pair of film pull belts, and a pair of zipper drive rollers for pulling the plastic film and zipper strip through the machine. The production of different size bags is facilitated by having the film drive roll, pull belts, and zipper drive rollers simultaneously driven in bag length increments by a common drive source. Also, to accommodate the production of different size bags, the machine includes a vertically adjustable mark sensor.

Abstract: A table having three major components, top, shelf and base, all constructed of light-weight wood or other light-weight materials and constructed so that the table is easily and quickly assembled and disassembled without the need for tools. All three parts simply fit together and have a handle or a hand-hole for carrying. Such a table provides art and drafting students an economical and light-weight drafting table which can be easily carried and set up. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the folding portable drafting table includes a folding, three panel base, a shelf adapted to be received between the panels of the base, and a removable top adapted to be placed over the base and having depending rails which form grooves therebetween adapted to receive the upper ends of the side panels of the base. The table is easily disassembled by lifting the top off the base, pulling the shelf out, and folding the side panels against the center panel of the base.